He's a UFA, he's very responsible and he is a couple years younger than Gill. I think he would be a good addition. Also, looking at the Lightning, gimme opinions on St. Louis, LeCavlier or Malone moving to a team that has its sights realistically set on the Cup i.e.Preds. All three have no-trade clauses, but none of those guys are getting any younger either. Do you think Yzerman would move them? Do you think any one of them would be willing to waive their clause in an effort to win a cup?

I'm taking in the Preds v. Blues game Saturday with my buddy (45) and my two sons (16 & 9) and I need to know a good place downtown to grab some good pub grub and a quality beer or two AND is also ok for the kids. I'm cool with a "Hooters" type atmosphere, but I'd like something more original. I see there's a Dick's Last Resort, but that place gives me the creeps too. When I used to go see the Thrasher we would go to ESPN Zone, so something like that is cool. Also, any suggestions on parking would be greatly appreciated.

I've promoted this to the front page, as I know a number of folks will want to help get the word out. - Dirk

The only reason I'm posting this is because hockey fans are one big family--and especially since hockey fans from the south (gasp) are often looked at as not being worthy of the enjoying the sport , I feel Preds nation should know about the situation 100 miles south of Nashville. The only DI NCAA hockey program south of the Mason-Dixon is on the verge of collapse because no conference will accept them into the fold.  I just got this e-mail this morning. Things aren't looking good for the U. Alabama-Huntsville program. BTW, Blake Geoffrione's brothers play for UAH.

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Andrei ain't happy in Montreal so is he jockeying for a move? Maybe a move to play with lil' bro? From the Calgary paper "Phoenix, the New York Islanders and Colorado are currently under the salary cap floor and could use Kostitsyn's $3.25-million cap hit. And he might also be attractive to Nashville, which successfully recycled Andrei's younger brother, Sergei." It makes sense to me.

 Sedins, meet the Kostitsyns. Kostitsyns, meet the Sedins.

Well, it’s sinking—again, and again, year after year.  I’m afraid there’s nothing the franchise can do to stay afloat. I’m 45 and I grew up in Gadsden Al.  In the 1970s, because of where Gadsden is in regards to the Atlanta market, we got Atlanta TV, and therefore I saw my first hockey games on (I think) WSB in 1974-75 season. I was hooked—what with the hair and the mustaches and the brawling and the traditions—it was a golden age for hockey then and as a boy, I had Bama football to follow, but I was looking for a little more excitement than what the NFL, NBA and MLB offered.  In 1976, I believe the Flames then moved broadcasts to WTCG (now WTBS) and I grew even closer to “Da Flame” as Boomer Geoffrione called them while doing color for the broadcasts next to Jigs MacDonald.  

Anyway, John Bassett then moves his Toronto Toros to Birmingham in 1976 and then I’m actually attending games at the BJCC seeing the Bulls’ Mahavolich and Henderson taking on Hull and Howe and even a young Gretzky…and I’m really hooked.  As you probably know, the Bulls dissolve upon WHA/NHL merger, and the Flames leave for Calgary (subsequently, they win the cup). So I go through the 1980s without a team of my own—mostly I would follow players, not teams. Being a southern hockey fan was hard then. There were several years when there was no national TV coverage, but I still kept up with the sports pages, had the Hockey News subscription, read books, etc.  

After college I went into the Air Force and my first duty station was in Northern California, just as the SJ Sharks were coming into the league. I began following the Sharks their first seasons, and that was tough.  They were bad. Very bad.  But there was hope, and I even turned a few fellows I worked with on to hockey. They’d come over to my place and we’d sit and watch the Sharks, swill beer, etc. and I’d answer their questions. Those guys are fans to this day (of their own teams).  

I moved to Anchorage in 94 and I had the opportunity to learn to play. I took up the sport and played year-round in Anchorage men’s league playing for an Elmendorf Air Force Base club. Got to watch the birth of the Anchorage Aces and the WCHL, and lived and breathed hockey for my four years there.  Then I moved to Maxwell AFB in Montgomery in 1997 as the Preds and Thrashers expansion was announced. I drove up to Nashville in 1998 to catch a Preds v. Blackhawks game, was pulling for the Preds.

But when the Thrashers hit the scene, because of the location of Montgomery to Atlanta, once again I was in Atlanta’s market , I got the Thrashers on TV  so I began following the Thrashers their first year and kept up with tem every season since.  

 I even had a one year assignment to Korea, was involved in OIF, did another tour of Alaska (Fairbanks) from 04-07 and I continued to follow the Thrashers. I believed in Don Waddell's five year plan.  I cheered when they drafted Stephan (flop), then Heatley and then Kovalchuk, then Lehtonen then Coburn. The Thrashers were gaining point production every seqason.  They had Don Audette, and Chicken Parm and The Sheriff. Then the Dan Snyder tragedy struck. When Snyder died it was such a blow to the franchise that they never could recover.

Heatley wanted out, and although the Thrashers  got Hossa in return, it just wasn’t the same. They went on to draft Coburn and looked to be gaining defensively, but DW traded him away for their only play-off push. Don Waddell squandered the team.

Bob Hartley couldn’t help.  John Anderson couldn’t help. Kovalchuk was one-dimensional, Lehtonen showed up every year over weight and always pulled a groin. They used a first round pick on Alex Bourett? It’s been a tough road and mostly down-hill. 

Then there was Turner selling the whole thing to Atlanta Spirit Group, then the lawsuits, and the turmoil. Now it’s  a team with no ownership backing and consequently no depth, pushing for a final playoff spot and incapable of winning the games it needs to win to get in. 

Was it the Cole GWG yesterday that pushed me over the edge? Maybe a little.

But really it was more like the Preds vs. Avs game Saturday night. The fans were in it, the players were in it. It was fun to watch.  It wasn’t so depressing.

I’ve always followed the Preds from a distance and catch a game every now and then. I like what I see. Strong, responsible defensive play. The players always seem so smart and honest and hard-working.  Sure they leave a stinker on the ice every now and then. But all teams do that.

But the Thrashers are simply dysfunctional. The fans are giving up.  Here it is mid-Feb and there’s been no move for another top six forward. There won’t be one either because ownership doesn’t want to write the check and players don’t want to go to Atlanta.  Too much hand wringing and gnashing of teeth. All the fans want is a team they can count on to try to play well. And they just aren’t getting it.

I retired from the Air Force in 2010 and moved to Huntsville so now I’m now living in the Nashville market area. I can drive to Nashville in an hour and a half.  The kids playing hockey in this town (both my boys play here) wear Preds jerseys. Even our minor league team is patterned after Nashville.  So here I am, not thinking about the next Thrashers game, but looking forward to the Preds game tomorrow night. Even though the Preds are battling for the playoffs too, at least there is more of a chance that the Preds WILL make it. I just don’t see the Thrashers in the post season….ever. The Preds have confidence--the Preds fans have confidence. IT will happen. The Preds can and will make it past the first round this year and I want to be a part of that. Not on the Thrasher's site March 1 posting questions and wondering why no move was made and why the Sabres and the Canes are battling for the 8th slot.  Well DW, ASG and all you folks in Thrasherville or Blueland or whatever you call it, I'm done. As of Feb. 14, 2011, I'm on waivers, and I hope the Preds will pick me up.